Fall break: what a great concept! Just when the weather gets crisp and the leaves burst into color, the kids get a little time off from school and families can take advantage of this wonderful time of year. Here are a few suggestions for fall festivities, quick getaways, and fun activities to help your family have a fun fall break around Indy.
Related Article: Fall Fun Bucket List Ideas in Indianapolis
Celebrate all things fall at the farm.
Nothing says “it’s fall” like a trip to a local farm festival. Pick a pumpkin, jump in some hay, and make sure to save room for apple cider slushies. Fall Fun at the Farm has never been so popular!
- Tuttle Orchards- All fall enjoy the Tractor Town Kids Area, Corn Maze, cut your own sunflowers, apples cider slushies, and pick up some apples in the Farm Store. Open Monday-Saturday, from 9 am – 7 pm.
- Beasley’s Orchard- A fun-filled family farm with an 8-acre Corn Maze, Hayrides to the U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, Apple Cannons, Barnyard Bonanza Activity Area, Music, Food, and more Fall family fun!
- Russell Farms- Enjoy hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, 2 scavenger hunt corn mazes, Mt. Russell slide, a huge jumping pillow, miniature golf, pedal carts for all ages, pedal tractors, playground areas, concessions, a country store full of apple cider, fudge, fall decorations, and more on a safe farm with fresh country air and lots of pumpkins and gourds.
- Kelsay Farm– Bring your family to the farm to celebrate 15 years of Fall fun! From hayrides to pumpkins to corn maze and farm animals – you are sure to have a great time! Open weekdays from noon-6 pm for fall break, Oct. 9-20, 2023.
- Anderson Orchard- Don’t miss their new Fall Break Festivities during fall break, Oct. 7-22, 2023! All the fun of an orchard visit, plus a petting zoo, face painting, a food truck and more.
Enjoy fall break at the Prairie.
- Headless Horseman
Go in search of the Headless Horseman aboard our tractor-pulled, haunted hayrides. Come face-to-face with the Legend as he chases guests through the prairie grounds. Thursdays – Sundays, October 5–29, 2023 - Corn Maze
The 22,160-foot maze features three unique adventure paths to appeal to guests of all ages. The corn maze is open during regular Conner Prairie hours.
Visit a nature center.
Nature centers have the best of everything. Enjoy some time outside before heading indoors for educational activities and exhibits. You could spend your entire week visiting all the different nature centers in Central Indiana!
Take in all the fall colors.
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, peak fall foliage dates for 2023 are October 5-21 in northern Indiana and October 12-28 in southern Indiana, making this a great time to plan a scenic weekend road trip to see fall foliage in Indiana.
Have spooktacular fun at ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo.
For four decades, the Indianapolis Zoo’s annual Halloween celebration has been a beloved fall tradition for families across Central Indiana. This year, guests can enjoy 20 days full of spooktacular fun, active animals, new, larger-than-life décor, and more.
Get lost in an Indiana Corn Maze.
Putting all the obvious jokes about Indiana and corn aside, let’s just say that Indiana knows how to do corn mazes. And now that fall is here, it’s time to get a-mazin’!
Hit the road (Quick and cheap day trips)
Just because you didn’t plan an epic fall break getaway this year, doesn’t mean you have to stick around Indy all week. Here are a few day trip ideas that won’t break the bank, and will get you on the road quickly.
- Epic Indiana Playground Tour – Visit one or several of these amazing playgrounds around central Indiana. Distance varies by park.
- Explore the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World” AKA Parke County – With a whopping 31 covered bridges, Parke County has earned the title of “Covered Bridge Capital of the World”! And there’s no better time to drive through this scenic destination than fall. The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, scheduled for October 13 through 22, 2023, is a great choice for families looking to attend a unique fall festival.
- Meet and greet Alpacas at Heritage Farm – Heritage Farm is a working alpaca farm with more than 50 alpacas you can see, touch, and interact with. Meet and greets start at $5, and alpaca hikes start at $8 per person. About an hour from Indy.
- Visit the larges pumpkin patch in Indiana, Exploration Acres – The pumpkin patch at Exploration Acres sprawls over 11 acres, and you can choose from 38 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds. If you’re looking for big pumpkins, you’ll find them here — some of the pumpkins weigh more than 200 pounds! Tickets range from $8-$11/person. About an hour from Indy.
Visit a haunted house at The Children’s Museum.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis provides family fun all year round, but you’ll have a frightfully great time in the fall. At 59th Annual Haunted House, you’ll have the once-in-a-nightmare chance to explore the town where Halloween villains live during their “offseason.” The classic villains—mad scientists, witches, zombies, werewolves, and more—are back. And they’re just DYING to meet you.
When in doubt, go to the library.
The greater Indianapolis area has some incredible libraries, both for finding new books and creating new adventures. Here are a few of our favorite libraries that offer great kids zones:
- Central Library – 40 East Saint Clair Street, Indianapolis
- Hancock County Library – 900 W McKenzie Rd, Greenfield
- Michigan Road Branch Library – 6201 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
- Carmel Clay Public Library – 55 4th Ave SE, Carmel
- Lawrence Branch Library (Brand New!) – 7898 Hague Road, Indianapolis
